Processing Electronic Messages Wirelessly Sent to a Vehicle

1. A method for processing electronic messages sent to a vehicle, comprising the steps of: (a) identifying at least one communication device authorized to send electronic messages to the vehicle; (b) providing a messaging application to the communication device; (c) sending an electronic message from the communication device to a call center, wherein the electronic message is intended for the vehicle but is diverted to the call center by the messaging application; and (d) if the communication device is properly authorized to send electronic messages to the vehicle, then forwarding the electronic message from the call center to the vehicle.

2. The processing method of claim 1 , wherein step (a) further comprises identifying at least one communication device authorized to send electronic messages to the vehicle by creating an authorized messaging group that is comprised of communication devices enrolled in a pre-selected calling plan.

3. The processing method of claim 1 , wherein step (a) further comprises identifying at least one communication device authorized to send electronic messages to the vehicle by creating an authorized messaging group that is comprised of communication devices whose contact numbers are received from an authorized user.

4. The processing method of claim 1 , wherein the communication device is a mobile phone and the messaging application is a software program designed to run on a mobile phone.

5. The processing method of claim 1 , wherein step (c) further comprises configuring the electronic message according to a message type that is based on a review of a calling plan for the communication device, before sending the electronic message from the communication device to the call center.

6. The processing method of claim 1 , wherein step (d) further comprises encrypting contents of the electronic message, before wirelessly forwarding the electronic message from the call center to the vehicle.

7. The processing method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of: analyzing the electronic message at the vehicle to determine if it is authentic by determining if it is sent from the call center.

8. The processing method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of: analyzing the electronic message at the vehicle to determine if it is authentic by decrypting its contents with a secret key.

9. The processing method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of: conveying contents of the electronic message to passengers in the vehicle by displaying them on a visual display located inside of the vehicle.

10. The processing method of claim 1 , wherein the electronic message is at least one of a short message service (SMS) message, an instant message, or an email.

11. A method for processing electronic messages sent to a vehicle, comprising the steps of: (a) sending an electronic message from a communication device to a call center, wherein the electronic message is intended for the vehicle but is routed to the call center by a messaging application installed on the communication device; (b) analyzing the electronic message sent from the communication device to determine if the communication device is properly authorized to send electronic messages to the vehicle; (c) if the communication device is properly authorized to send electronic messages to the vehicle, then forwarding the electronic message from the call center to the vehicle; and (d) displaying contents of the electronic message to passengers in the vehicle via a visual display.

12. The processing method of claim 11 , wherein the method further comprises the step of: identifying at least one communication device authorized to send electronic messages to the vehicle by creating an authorized messaging group that is comprised of communication devices enrolled in a pre-selected calling plan, wherein the at least one communication device is identified before sending an electronic message in step (a).

13. The processing method of claim 11 , wherein the method further comprises the step of: identifying at least one communication device authorized to send electronic messages to the vehicle by creating an authorized messaging group that is comprised of communication devices whose contact numbers are received from an authorized user, wherein the at least one communication device is identified before sending an electronic message in step (a).

14. The processing method of claim 11 , wherein the communication device is a mobile phone and the messaging application is a software program designed to run on a mobile phone.

15. The processing method of claim 11 , wherein step (a) further comprises configuring the electronic message according to a message type that is based on a review of a calling plan for the communication device, before sending the electronic message from the communication device to the call center.

16. The processing method of claim 11 , wherein step (c) further comprises encrypting contents of the electronic message, before wirelessly forwarding the electronic message from the call center to the vehicle.

17. The processing method of claim 11 , further comprising the step of: analyzing the electronic message at the vehicle to determine if it is authentic by determining if it is sent from the call center.

18. The processing method of claim 11 , further comprising the step of: analyzing the electronic message at the vehicle to determine if it is authentic by decrypting its contents with a secret key.

19. The processing method of claim 11 , wherein the electronic message is at least one of a short message service (SMS) message, an instant message, or an email.

20. A method for processing electronic messages sent to a vehicle, comprising the steps of: (a) determining an authorized messaging group that includes one or more communication devices authorized to send SMS messages to the vehicle; (b) providing a messaging application to a communication device in the authorized messaging group; (c) updating records maintained at a call center with information regarding the authorized messaging group; (d) diverting a first SMS message from the communication device to the call center, wherein the SMS message is intended for the vehicle and is diverted by the messaging application; (e) analyzing the first SMS message at the call center to determine if the communication device is part of the authorized messaging group; (f) if the communication device is part of the authorized messaging group, then wirelessly sending a second SMS message from the call center to the vehicle; (g) analyzing the second SMS message at the vehicle to determine if it is authentic; and (h) if the second SMS message is authentic, then displaying contents of the second SMS message to passengers in the vehicle.

21. A system for processing electronic messages sent to a vehicle, comprising: a communication device having text messaging capability such that the communication device receives user inputted text messages and sends the text messages to an addressee selected by the user; a plurality of vehicles each having a telematics unit that wireless receives text messages; and a call center that communicates wirelessly with the plurality of vehicles via their telematics units; wherein said communication device includes a messaging application that detects the addressee selected by the user and, if the addressee corresponds to one of the plurality of vehicles, the messaging application redirects the text message to the call center; and wherein the call center receives the redirected text message, attempts to authenticate the redirected text message and, if authenticated, sends the redirected text message to the corresponding vehicle via its telematics unit.

22. A system as set forth in claim 21 , wherein the telematics unit of the corresponding vehicle is operable to attempt to authenticate the redirected text message that it receives and, if authenticated, delivers the text message to an occupant in the vehicle.

23. A system as set forth in claim 22 , wherein the telematics unit of the corresponding vehicle authenticates the redirected text message by determining if it was sent from the call center.

24. A system as set forth in claim 21 , wherein if the addressee does not correspond to one of the plurality of vehicles, the messaging application allows the text message to be sent to the addressee from the communications device without being redirected.

25. A system as set forth in claim 21 , wherein the messaging application operates in conjunction with a previously-installed text messaging program and intercepts text messages addressed to the vehicles.

26. A system as set forth in claim 21 , wherein the messaging application provides a user interface through which the user can compose the redirected text message.